Electroencephalogram hashing device for authentication and routing

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods for authenticating and/or routing a digital signal are provided. A system may include a central database configured to store a set of signature brain wave responses as part of a profile of a user. The system may include a transaction device, a sensory device, and an EEG device. When a transaction request is received from the user, the system may be configured to present the user with a sensory prompt, detect a response of the user to the first sensory prompt, compare the response to the signature response in the profile associated with the sensory prompt, and, when the response matches the signature response within a predetermined delta, authenticate and/or route the transaction request.

FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY

Aspects of the disclosure relate to computer systems. Specifically,aspects of the disclosure relate to systems and methods forauthenticating and routing digital signals.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Digital signals are commonly used to transmit sensitive information. Forexample, digital signals are often used to transmit requests that mayrelate to the health and/or finances of the signal initiator. Digitalsignals that are hacked, co-opted, misrouted, or in other ways defectivemay jeopardize the health and/or finances of the purported signalinitiator.

For example, a digital signal may be received by a financialinstitution. The digital signal may indicate that an account user isrequesting a certain transaction, e.g., a withdrawal at an automatedteller machine (ATM). Conventional systems for authenticating the signalmay include reading a card and/or entering personal identificationnumber (PIN). Conventional systems for routing the signal may includepressing a button on a keypad or touchscreen.

However, cards are vulnerable to theft or duplication withoutauthorization. PIN numbers are sometimes obtained without permission.Touchscreens and keypads may freeze, stick, or otherwise break. Users,especially the elderly and those with physical or mental difficulties,may enter routing, or other, instructions they do not really intend.Such signals, if mistaken and/or not properly authenticated or routed,may result in funds being withdrawn or otherwise misdirected withoutpermission or intention of the account user.

It would be desirable therefore, to provide systems and methods capableof providing secure authentication of sensitive digital signals.

It would be further desirable for the systems and methods to be capableof accurate routing of sensitive digital signals.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

Aspects of the disclosure relate to secure methods for authenticatingand/or routing a digital signal. A method may include recording a set ofsignature responses of a user. Each signature response from the set ofsignature responses may include a pattern of brain activity detected byan electroencephalogram (EEG) when the user is presented with a sensoryprompt from a set of sensory prompts. The method may include storing theset of signature responses in a central database as part of a profile ofthe user.

The method may include receiving a request from the user to initiate atransaction, presenting to the user a first sensory prompt from the setof sensory prompts, and detecting, via an EEG, a response of the user tothe first sensory prompt, the response including a pattern of brainactivity.

The method may also include comparing the response to the signatureresponse in the profile associated with the first sensory prompt. Whenthe response matches the signature response within a predetermineddelta, the method may include authenticating and/or routing thetransaction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The objects and advantages of the disclosure will be apparent uponconsideration of the following detailed description, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like referencecharacters refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 shows an illustrative system in accordance with principles of thedisclosure;

FIG. 2 shows an illustrative apparatus in accordance with principles ofthe disclosure;

FIG. 3 shows an illustrative system diagram in accordance withprinciples of the disclosure;

FIG. 4 shows another illustrative system diagram in accordance withprinciples of the disclosure;

FIG. 5 shows yet another illustrative system diagram in accordance withprinciples of the disclosure;

FIG. 6 shows an illustrative flowchart in accordance with principles ofthe disclosure; and

FIG. 7 shows another illustrative flowchart in accordance withprinciples of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

Systems and methods for secure authentication and/or accurate routing ofdigital signals are provided. The digital signal may, for example, be asensitive request signal. A sensitive request signal may, for example,be a signal requesting a financial transaction. Other exemplary signalsmay include other suitable messages or requests, especially ones that,if misdirected or fraudulent in nature, may incur damage and/or loss.

The systems and methods may include a platform. The platform may includeand/or be connected to a central database. The central database may beconfigured to store a set of signature responses as part of a profile ofa user.

The set of signature responses may, in some embodiments, be recordedafter the user opts-in to use the platform. For example, the user may beprovided an option to opt-in via a website or mobile application (“app”)accessible on a mobile device. The website or app may be associated withan entity, such as a financial institution, that is associated with thecentral database. The user may also, in certain embodiments, opt-in at aphysical location of the entity.

Each signature response from the set of signature responses may includea pattern of brain activity detected by an electroencephalogram (EEG).The EEG may, in certain embodiments, be a part of (or otherwiseconnected to) a user device, such as a computer or mobile device. TheEEG may be located at a location of the entity (for example, at a banklocation). In some embodiments, the entity may have an agreement with amedical facility to utilize EEGs of the facility to detect the signatureresponses.

The pattern of brain activity of the signature responses may be detectedby the EEG when the user is presented with a sensory prompt from a setof sensory prompts. The sensory prompt may, in certain embodiments,include an image prompt, a text prompt, an audio prompt, a video prompt,a scent prompt, a touch prompt, and/or a taste prompt. The sensoryprompt may include an actual physical object. The object may be in thepresence of the user, or, in some embodiments, not in the presence ofthe user. The sensory prompt may be a prompt to think about an object ora concept.

The sensory prompts may be presented by the entity. The sensory promptsmay be presented at a physical location of the entity. The sensoryprompts may be presented via a mobile device, e.g., via an app providedby the entity.

Detecting, recording, and/or storing the signature responses may be partof a training, or tuning, of the platform. Tuning the platform may trainthe platform with the brain wave patterns this particular user typicallyemits when presented the sensory prompts. The brain wave patterns mayrepresent a physiological manifestation of an emotional response of theuser to the prompts. Each user may have a unique signature response tothe prompts. In other embodiments, any other suitable detectable,unique, bio-signals may be utilized by the platform.

The platform may include a transaction device. The transaction devicemay be configured to receive a transaction request. The platform mayinclude a sensory device. The sensory device may be configured topresent to the user a sensory prompt. The platform may also include anEEG device. The EEG device may be configured to detect brain activity ofthe user.

In one illustrative embodiment of the platform, the transaction devicemay be an automated teller machine (ATM). The sensory device may be anapp running on a computing device such as a mobile phone. The sensorydevice may be coupled to the ATM or the central server, e.g., via acable, Bluetooth, WiFi, or other suitable form of connectivity. In someembodiments, the transaction device and the sensory device may be theATM. In some embodiments, the transaction device and the sensory devicemay be the computing device.

The EEG may be any suitable device for detecting brain wave activity.The EEG may include a headpiece. The headpiece may include a pluralityof electrical leads. The headpiece may resemble a hood, helmet,headphones, or any other suitable EEG headpiece. The EEG may beconnected, with wires or wirelessly, to the transaction device and/orthe sensory device. It is contemplated that an EEG capable of detectingbrain wave activity from a distance may be provided as a built-incomponent of the transaction device and/or the sensory device. Thebuilt-in EEG may be able to detect the brain activity of the userwithout contacting the.

When a transaction request is received from the user via the transactiondevice, the platform may be configured to present the user, via thesensory device, with a first sensory prompt from the set of sensoryprompts. For example, the platform may display a picture of a flower.The platform may play a clip of a song. The platform may show a videoclip. The platform may, in certain embodiments, direct the user to focuson a physical object apart from the sensory device. For example, theplatform may direct the user to focus on his or her hand, or a nearbyobject such as an apple.

The platform may be configured to detect, via the EEG, a response of theuser to the first sensory prompt. A response may include a pattern ofbrain activity. The platform may be configured to compare the responseto the signature response in the profile associated with the firstsensory prompt. When the response matches the signature response withina predetermined delta, the platform may be configured to authenticateand/or route the transaction request.

The delta may be a percentage. For example, the predetermined delta maybe that at least 95%, or any other suitable percentage, of the patternof the response is the same as the pattern of the signature response. Insome embodiments, the delta may be a confidence score. The confidencescore may be the output of an artificial intelligence (AI) enginetrained to compare two brain wave patterns and calculate a confidencescore of the two being emitted from the same brain.

In certain embodiments of the platform, authenticating the transactionrequest may include matching the response to the signature response toconfirm that the transaction request was transmitted by the user. Onceauthenticated, the transaction may be executed by the transactiondevice. In some embodiments, the transaction request may be a request ofthe user to log-in to a system through which a transaction may berequested. The authentication may validate the log-in, and the user maysubsequently be enabled to request a transaction.

In some embodiments, the platform may be configured to route atransaction request. The first sensory prompt may be part of a pluralityof sensory prompts presented to the user. Each of the plurality ofsensory prompts may be from the set of sensory prompts used to generatethe set of signature responses. To accomplish the routing, the platformmay be configured to present each of the plurality of sensory prompts inconjunction with a different transaction option from a plurality oftransaction options.

The user may generate the response by focusing on one of the sensoryprompts that is presented in conjunction with the desired transactionoption. The platform may be configured to determine which signatureresponse is a closest match to the response. The platform may beconfigured to determine which sensory prompt is mapped to the signatureresponse that is the closest match. The platform may be configured todetermine which transaction option was presented in conjunction with thesensory prompt. The platform may be also configured to route the requestto a central server to execute the transaction option.

As an illustrative example, the list of transaction options mayinclude 1) Make a Deposit, 2) Make a Withdrawal, and 3) Make a Transfer.The transaction options may be shown on a display of a mobile phone oran ATM. Adjacent to each option, the platform may display a differentsensory prompt—for example, a picture of a flower next to option 1), apicture of a house next to option 2), and a picture of a baby next tooption 3). The user may wish to select option 3), so he or she may focuson the picture of the baby. The EEG may detect brain activity while theuser focuses on the baby, and compare the pattern of the activity to thesignature responses in the database. The signature responses may alsoinclude patterns detected while the user was presented with pictures ofa flower, a house, and a baby. The platform may determine that thedetected response most closely matches the signature response that wasrecorded for the picture of a baby. The platform may thus determine thatthe user was selecting option 3), and the platform may route a requestfor a Transfer.

In some embodiments, the text of each transaction option (or, in certainembodiments, the mere concept of the option itself) may also be thesensory prompt. For example, the phrases “Make a Deposit,” “Make aWithdrawal,” and “Make a Transfer” may each be part of the sensoryprompts that were used to generate signature responses. The user mayfocus on one of the options, and the detected brain wave response may bematched to the signature responses to determine which option the user isfocusing on, and thereby selecting.

In certain embodiments, the predetermined delta may be a firstpredetermined delta when authenticating the transaction, and a secondpredetermined delta when routing the transaction. The firstpredetermined delta may, in certain embodiments, be smaller than thesecond predetermined delta. The platform may be configured in such amanner because authentication includes comparing the current response ofthe supposed user to the signature response of the user, both inresponse to the same sensory prompt. The authentication may be moreaccurate when restricted to a small delta. In contrast, routing maycompare a response to an as yet unknown prompt, to a set of responses ofthe same user to various prompts. It may be sufficient to determine theidentity of the unknown prompt by allowing a larger delta, anddetermining the unknown prompt based on which signature prompt isclosest to the current response.

The transaction device may, in certain embodiments, be an automatedteller machine (ATM). The sensory device may, in some embodiments, be apart of the ATM. In other embodiments, the transaction device and/or thesensory device may be a mobile phone running an application.

In some embodiments, the platform may be further configured to hash theresponse with the sensory prompt to create a hashed signal. Hashing theresponse with the prompt may include linking the response and theprompt. The platform may be configured to transmit the hashed signal toa central server for processing. In some embodiments, the signal may beprocessed in the EEG device, the transaction device, and/or thetransaction device.

In an exemplary embodiment, the EEG may be configured to transmit theresponse to the sensory device, and the sensory device may be configuredto perform the hashing. The sensory device may also be configured totransmit the hashed signal to the transaction device and/or to thecentral server (or, in some embodiments, to the central server via thetransaction device).

Methods for secure authentication and/or accurate routing of digitalsignals are provided. A method may include recording a set of signatureresponses of a user. Each signature response from the set of signatureresponses may include a pattern of brain activity detected by anelectroencephalogram (EEG) when the user is presented with a sensoryprompt from a set of sensory prompts. The sensory prompt may, forexample, include an image prompt, a text prompt, an audio prompt, avideo prompt, a scent prompt, a touch prompt, and/or a taste prompt. Themethod may include storing the set of signature responses in a centraldatabase as part of a profile of the user.

The method may include receiving a request from the user to initiate atransaction, presenting to the user a first sensory prompt from the setof sensory prompts, and detecting, via an EEG, a response of the user tothe first sensory prompt, the response including a pattern of brainactivity.

The method may also include comparing the response to the signatureresponse in the profile associated with the first sensory prompt. Whenthe response matches the signature response within a predetermineddelta, the method may include authenticating and/or routing thetransaction.

In some embodiments of the method, the authenticating may includematching the response to the signature response to confirm that therequest was transmitted by the user.

In certain embodiments, the first sensory prompt may be part of aplurality of sensory prompts presented to the user. Each of theplurality of sensory prompts may be from the set of sensory prompts. Toaccomplish the routing, the method may further include presenting eachof the plurality of sensory prompts in conjunction with a differenttransaction option from a plurality of transaction options, determiningwhich signature response is a closest match to the response, determiningwhich sensory prompt is mapped to the signature response that is theclosest match, determining which transaction option was presented inconjunction with said sensory prompt, and/or routing the request to acentral server to execute said transaction option.

In some embodiments, the predetermined delta may be a firstpredetermined delta when authenticating the transaction, and a secondpredetermined delta when routing the transaction. The firstpredetermined delta may, in certain embodiments, be smaller than thesecond predetermined delta.

In certain embodiments, the request may be transmitted by the user viaan automated teller machine (ATM).

In some embodiments, the sensory prompt may be presented to the user viaa mobile device.

The method may, in some embodiments, include hashing the response withthe sensory prompt to create a hashed signal. The method may alsoinclude transmitting the hashed signal to a central server forprocessing.

In certain embodiments, the EEG may transmit the response to the devicewhich presented the sensory prompt to the user, and the mobile deviceperforms the hashing and transmits the hashed signal to an automatedteller machine (ATM) and/or to the central server.

Apparatus and methods described herein are illustrative. Apparatus andmethods in accordance with this disclosure will now be described inconnection with the figures, which form a part hereof. The figures showillustrative features of apparatus and method steps in accordance withthe principles of this disclosure. It is understood that otherembodiments may be utilized, and that structural, functional, andprocedural modifications may be made without departing from the scopeand spirit of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 shows an illustrative block diagram of system 100 that includescomputer 101. Computer 101 may alternatively be referred to herein as a“server” or a “computing device.” Computer 101 may be a workstation,desktop, laptop, tablet, smart phone, or any other suitable computingdevice. Elements of system 100, including computer 101, may be used toimplement various aspects of the systems and methods disclosed herein.

Computer 101 may have a processor 103 for controlling the operation ofthe device and its associated components, and may include RAM 105, ROM107, input/output module 109, and a memory 115. The processor 103 mayalso execute all software running on the computer—e.g., the operatingsystem and/or voice recognition software. Other components commonly usedfor computers, such as EEPROM or Flash memory or any other suitablecomponents, may also be part of the computer 101.

The memory 115 may be comprised of any suitable permanent storagetechnology—e.g., a hard drive. The memory 115 may store softwareincluding the operating system 117 and application(s) 119 along with anydata 111 needed for the operation of the system 100. Memory 115 may alsostore videos, text, and/or audio assistance files. The videos, text,and/or audio assistance files may also be stored in cache memory, or anyother suitable memory. Alternatively, some or all of computer executableinstructions (alternatively referred to as “code”) may be embodied inhardware or firmware (not shown). The computer 101 may execute theinstructions embodied by the software to perform various functions.

Input/output (“I/O”) module may include connectivity to a microphone,keyboard, touch screen, mouse, and/or stylus through which a user ofcomputer 101 may provide input. The input may include input relating tocursor movement. The input/output module may also include one or morespeakers for providing audio output and a video display device forproviding textual, audio, audiovisual, and/or graphical output. Theinput and output may be related to sensitive digital signals.

System 100 may be connected to other systems via a local area network(LAN) interface 113.

System 100 may operate in a networked environment supporting connectionsto one or more remote computers, such as terminals 141 and 151.Terminals 141 and 151 may be personal computers or servers that includemany or all of the elements described above relative to system 100. Thenetwork connections depicted in FIG. 1 include a local area network(LAN) 125 and a wide area network (WAN) 129, but may also include othernetworks. When used in a LAN networking environment, computer 101 isconnected to LAN 125 through a LAN interface or adapter 113. When usedin a WAN networking environment, computer 101 may include a modem 127 orother means for establishing communications over WAN 129, such asInternet 131.

It will be appreciated that the network connections shown areillustrative and other means of establishing a communications linkbetween computers may be used. The existence of various well-knownprotocols such as TCP/IP, Ethernet, FTP, HTTP and the like is presumed,and the system can be operated in a client-server configuration topermit a user to retrieve web pages from a web-based server. Theweb-based server may transmit data to any other suitable computersystem. The web-based server may also send computer-readableinstructions, together with the data, to any suitable computer system.The computer-readable instructions may be to store the data in cachememory, the hard drive, secondary memory, or any other suitable memory.

Additionally, application program(s) 119, which may be used by computer101, may include computer executable instructions for invoking userfunctionality related to communication, such as e-mail, Short MessageService (SMS), and voice input and speech recognition applications.Application program(s) 119 (which may be alternatively referred toherein as “plugins,” “applications,” or “apps”) may include computerexecutable instructions for invoking user functionality relatedperforming various tasks. The various tasks may be related to sensitivedigital signals.

Computer 101 and/or terminals 141 and 151 may also be devices includingvarious other components, such as a battery, speaker, and/or antennas(not shown).

Terminal 151 and/or terminal 141 may be portable devices such as alaptop, cell phone, Blackberry TM, tablet, smartphone, or any othersuitable device for receiving, storing, transmitting and/or displayingrelevant information. Terminals 151 and/or terminal 141 may be otherdevices. These devices may be identical to system 100 or different. Thedifferences may be related to hardware components and/or softwarecomponents.

Any information described above in connection with database 111, and anyother suitable information, may be stored in memory 115. One or more ofapplications 119 may include one or more algorithms that may be used toimplement features of the disclosure, and/or any other suitable tasks.

The invention may be operational with numerous other general purpose orspecial purpose computing system environments or configurations.Examples of well-known computing systems, environments, and/orconfigurations that may be suitable for use with the invention include,but are not limited to, personal computers, server computers, hand-heldor laptop devices, tablets, mobile phones, smart phones and/or otherpersonal digital assistants (“PDAs”), multiprocessor systems,microprocessor-based systems, set top boxes, programmable consumerelectronics, network PCs, minicomputers, mainframe computers,distributed computing environments that include any of the above systemsor devices, and the like.

The invention may be described in the general context ofcomputer-executable instructions, such as program modules, beingexecuted by a computer. Generally, program modules include routines,programs, objects, components, data structures, etc., that performparticular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. Theinvention may also be practiced in distributed computing environmentswhere tasks are performed by remote processing devices that are linkedthrough a communications network. In a distributed computingenvironment, program modules may be located in both local and remotecomputer storage media including memory storage devices.

FIG. 2 shows illustrative apparatus 200 that may be configured inaccordance with the principles of the disclosure. Apparatus 200 may be acomputing machine. Apparatus 200 may include one or more features of theapparatus shown in FIG. 1. Apparatus 200 may include chip module 202,which may include one or more integrated circuits, and which may includelogic configured to perform any other suitable logical operations.

Apparatus 200 may include one or more of the following components: I/Ocircuitry 204, which may include a transmitter device and a receiverdevice and may interface with fiber optic cable, coaxial cable,telephone lines, wireless devices, PHY layer hardware, a keypad/displaycontrol device or any other suitable media or devices; peripheraldevices 206, which may include counter timers, real-time timers,power-on reset generators or any other suitable peripheral devices;logical processing device 208, which may compute data structuralinformation and structural parameters of the data; and machine-readablememory 210.

Machine-readable memory 210 may be configured to store inmachine-readable data structures: machine executable instructions (whichmay be alternatively referred to herein as “computer instructions” or“computer code”), applications, signals, and/or any other suitableinformation or data structures.

Components 202, 204, 206, 208 and 210 may be coupled together by asystem bus or other interconnections 212 and may be present on one ormore circuit boards such as 220. In some embodiments, the components maybe integrated into a single chip. The chip may be silicon-based.

FIG. 3 shows illustrative system diagram 300 in accordance withprinciples of the disclosure. System diagram 300 shows user 301interacting with mobile device 303 and ATM 305. EEG device 307 maycapture brain wave patterns of user 301 while he or she is presentedwith a sensory prompt (e.g., an image) via mobile device 303. In certainembodiments, the EEG device may transmit the detected brain waves to themobile device, which may hash the response to the sensory prompt andtransmit the hashed signal to the ATM and/or a central system. Thesystem may process the brain wave pattern (e.g., with engine 309) andcompare with signature patterns stored in a user profile in a database(e.g., with module 311). The system may authenticate the user based onthe comparison.

The system may also use detected brain wave pattern to process a requestof the user. Processing the request may include routing the request.Routing the request may include selecting a transaction option from alist of transaction options 313. Each option from list 313 may bepresented next to a different sensory prompt. When the user focuses onthe sensory prompt that is next to the desired option, the system maydetect a pattern that, by comparison with the signature responses, thesystem may recognize to be the prompt that is next to the desiredoption.

FIG. 4 shows illustrative system diagram 400 in accordance withprinciples of the disclosure. Diagram 400 shows user 401 viewing anexemplary sensory prompt, shown here as an image of a flower, on mobiledevice 403. User 401 may be wearing, or otherwise within range of, EEGdevice 405. EEG device 405 may capture a brain wave response of user401. EEG device 405 may process the response internally. In someembodiments, the response may be transmitted to mobile device 403.Mobile device 403 may process, hash, and/or transmit the response to ATM407 and/or a central server.

FIG. 5 shows illustrative system diagram 500 in accordance withprinciples of the disclosure. Diagram 500 shows user 501, sensory device503, EEG device 505, transaction device 507, and central server 509.Central server 509 may be associated with a financial institution.

FIG. 6 shows illustrative flowchart 600 in accordance with principles ofthe disclosure. Flowchart 600 begins at step 601 with a user viewing animage. At step 603, the brain wave pattern may be detected by an EEGdevice, hashed with the image, and transmitted to an ATM or centralserver. At step 605, the pattern is processed. Processing may includeutilizing analog to digital deep learning apparatus to recognize and/orextract the pattern. Step 607 may include transmitting a digitaltransaction request along with the pattern and/or the image to a centralserver, e.g., a financial institution. Step 609 may includeauthenticating and/or routing the request based, at least in part, onthe pattern.

FIG. 7 shows illustrative flowchart 700 in accordance with principles ofthe disclosure. Step 701 may include a user initiating a transaction.Step 703 may include the user selecting predefined sensory prompts. Step705 may include recording brain signals of the user via an EEG device.Step 707 may include transmitting the detected signals to a mobiledevice. Step 709 may include hashing the detected signals with thesensory prompt. Step 711 may include transmitting the hashed signals toan ATM. Step 713 may include digitizing the detected signals. Step 715may include extracting features via a feature extracting engine. Step717 may include recognizing brain wave patterns via a brain waverecognition engine. Step 719 may include analyzing the patterns via deepleaning engine and comparing with patterns in a database. Step 721 mayinclude validating and/or authenticating the user based on thecomparison.

The disclosed system may also be used to route signals. In someembodiments, the system may perform both authentication and routing. Therouting may, in certain embodiments, be performed only after successfulauthentication. In some embodiments, the system may perform eitherauthentication or routing. In some embodiments, the system may beselectable to perform both authentication and routing, or just onewithout the other.

Step 723 may include displaying on a transaction device (e.g., an ATM),multiple transaction options in conjunction with multiple sensoryprompts. The user may direct the transaction by selecting a transactionoption as follows: At step 725 the user may direct his or her attentionto the sensory prompt displayed in conjunction with the desiredtransaction option. At step 727 the EEG device may record the brainsignals of the user. At step 729 the brain signals may be transmitted tothe ATM and/or a central server. At step 731 the brain signals may behashed with the sensory prompts and/or the transaction options. At step733 the hashed signal may be transmitted to a central server. At step735, the brain waves may be processed. The system may determine, basedon the brain wave patterns, which sensory prompt the user was focusedon, and thereby may determine the desired transaction option. Thetransaction may be executed accordingly.

The steps of methods may be performed in an order other than the ordershown and/or described herein. Embodiments may omit steps shown and/ordescribed in connection with illustrative methods. Embodiments mayinclude steps that are neither shown nor described in connection withillustrative methods.

Illustrative method steps may be combined. For example, an illustrativemethod may include steps shown in connection with another illustrativemethod.

Apparatus may omit features shown and/or described in connection withillustrative apparatus. Embodiments may include features that areneither shown nor described in connection with the illustrativeapparatus. Features of illustrative apparatus may be combined. Forexample, an illustrative embodiment may include features shown inconnection with another illustrative embodiment.

The drawings show illustrative features of apparatus and methods inaccordance with the principles of the invention. The features areillustrated in the context of selected embodiments. It will beunderstood that features shown in connection with one of the embodimentsmay be practiced in accordance with the principles of the inventionalong with features shown in connection with another of the embodiments.

One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the steps shownand described herein may be performed in other than the recited orderand that one or more steps illustrated may be optional. The methods ofthe above-referenced embodiments may involve the use of any suitableelements, steps, computer-executable instructions, or computer-readabledata structures. In this regard, other embodiments are disclosed hereinas well that can be partially or wholly implemented on acomputer-readable medium, for example, by storing computer-executableinstructions or modules or by utilizing computer-readable datastructures.

Thus, methods and systems for an electroencephalogram hashing device forauthentication and routing are provided. Persons skilled in the art willappreciate that the present invention can be practiced by other than thedescribed embodiments, which are presented for purposes of illustrationrather than of limitation, and that the present invention is limitedonly by the claims that follow.

What is claimed is:
 1. A secure method for authenticating and/or routinga digital signal, the method comprising: recording a set of signatureresponses of a user, wherein each signature response from the set ofsignature responses comprises a pattern of brain activity detected by anelectroencephalogram (EEG) when the user is presented with a sensoryprompt from a set of sensory prompts; storing the set of signatureresponses in a central database as part of a profile of the user;receiving a request from the user to initiate a transaction; presentingto the user a first sensory prompt from the set of sensory prompts;detecting, via an EEG, a response of the user to the first sensoryprompt, said response comprising a pattern of brain activity; comparingthe response to the signature response in the profile associated withthe first sensory prompt; and when the response matches the signatureresponse within a predetermined delta, authenticating and/or routing thetransaction.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the authenticatingcomprises matching the response to the signature response to confirmthat the request was transmitted by the user.
 3. The method of claim 1,wherein the first sensory prompt is part of a plurality of sensoryprompts presented to the user, each of the plurality of sensory promptsbeing from the set of sensory prompts, and, to accomplish the routing,the method further comprises: presenting each of the plurality ofsensory prompts in conjunction with a different transaction option froma plurality of transaction options; determining which signature responseis a closest match to the response; determining which sensory prompt ismapped to the signature response that is the closest match; determiningwhich transaction option was presented in conjunction with said sensoryprompt; and routing the request to a central server to execute saidtransaction option.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermineddelta is a first predetermined delta when authenticating thetransaction, and a second predetermined delta when routing thetransaction, and the first predetermined delta is smaller than thesecond predetermined delta.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein therequest is transmitted by the user via an automated teller machine(ATM).
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensory prompt is presentedto the user via a mobile device.
 7. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising hashing the response with the sensory prompt to create ahashed signal, and transmitting the hashed signal to a central serverfor processing.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the EEG transmits theresponse to a mobile device, said mobile device which presented thesensory prompt to the user, and the mobile device performs the hashingand transmits the hashed signal to an automated teller machine (ATM)and/or to the central server.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein thesensory prompt comprises an image prompt, a text prompt, an audioprompt, a video prompt, a scent prompt, a touch prompt, and/or a tasteprompt.
 10. A secure platform for authenticating and/or routing adigital signal, the platform comprising: a central database, saidcentral database configured to store a set of signature responses aspart of a profile of a user, wherein each signature response from theset of signature responses comprises a pattern of brain activitydetected by an electroencephalogram (EEG) when the user is presentedwith a sensory prompt from a set of sensory prompts; a transactiondevice configured to receive a transaction request; a sensory deviceconfigured to present to the user a sensory prompt; and an EEG deviceconfigured to detect brain activity of the user; wherein, when atransaction request is received from the user via the transactiondevice, the platform is configured to: present the user, via the sensorydevice, with a first sensory prompt from the set of sensory prompts;detect, via the EEG, a response of the user to the first sensory prompt,said response comprising a pattern of brain activity; compare theresponse to the signature response in the profile associated with thefirst sensory prompt; and when the response matches the signatureresponse within a predetermined delta, authenticate and/or route thetransaction request.
 11. The platform of claim 10, whereinauthenticating the transaction request comprises matching the responseto the signature response to confirm that the transaction request wastransmitted by the user.
 12. The platform of claim 10, wherein the firstsensory prompt is part of a plurality of sensory prompts presented tothe user, each of the plurality of sensory prompts being from the set ofsensory prompts, and, to accomplish the routing, the platform is furtherconfigured to: present each of the plurality of sensory prompts inconjunction with a different transaction option from a plurality oftransaction options; determine which signature response is a closestmatch to the response; determine which sensory prompt is mapped to thesignature response that is the closest match; determine whichtransaction option was presented in conjunction with said sensoryprompt; and route the request to a central server to execute saidtransaction option.
 13. The platform of claim 10, wherein thepredetermined delta is a first predetermined delta when authenticatingthe transaction, and a second predetermined delta when routing thetransaction, and the first predetermined delta is smaller than thesecond predetermined delta.
 14. The platform of claim 10, wherein thetransaction device is an automated teller machine (ATM), and the sensorydevice is a part of the ATM or is a mobile phone running an application.15. The platform of claim 10, further configured to hash the responsewith the sensory prompt to create a hashed signal, and transmit thehashed signal to a central server for processing.
 16. The platform ofclaim 15, wherein the EEG is configured to transmit the response to thesensory device, and the sensory device is configured to perform thehashing and to transmit the hashed signal to the transaction deviceand/or to the central server.
 17. The platform of claim 10, wherein thesensory prompt comprises an image prompt, a text prompt, an audioprompt, a video prompt, a scent prompt, a touch prompt, and/or a tasteprompt.
 18. A secure method for authenticating and/or routing a digitalsignal, the method comprising: recording a set of signature responses ofa user, wherein each signature response from the set of signatureresponses comprises a pattern of brain activity detected by anelectroencephalogram (EEG) when the user is presented with a sensoryprompt from a set of sensory prompts; storing the set of signatureresponses in a central database as part of a profile of the user;receiving a request from the user to initiate a transaction; presentingto the user a first sensory prompt from the set of sensory prompts;detecting, via an EEG, a response of the user to the first sensoryprompt, said response comprising a pattern of brain activity; comparingthe response to the signature response in the profile associated withthe first sensory prompt; and when the response matches the signatureresponse within a predetermined delta, authenticating and/or routing thetransaction; wherein: to perform the authenticating, the methodcomprises matching the response to the signature response to confirmthat the request was transmitted by the user; to perform the routing,the method further comprises: presenting the first sensory prompt aspart of a plurality of sensory prompts, each of the plurality of sensoryprompts being from the set of sensory prompts; presenting each of theplurality of sensory prompts in conjunction with a different transactionoption from a plurality of transaction options; determining whichsignature response is a closest match to the response; determining whichsensory prompt is mapped to the signature response that is the closestmatch; determining which transaction option was presented in conjunctionwith said sensory prompt; and routing the request to a central server toexecute said transaction option; and the predetermined delta is a firstpredetermined delta when authenticating the transaction, and a secondpredetermined delta when routing the transaction, and the firstpredetermined delta is smaller than the second predetermined delta. 19.The method of claim 18, wherein: the request is transmitted by the uservia an automated teller machine (ATM); the sensory prompt is presentedto the user via an application running on a mobile device; and thesensory prompt comprises an image prompt, a text prompt, an audioprompt, a video prompt, a scent prompt, a touch prompt, and/or a tasteprompt.
 20. The method of claim 18, further comprising hashing theresponse with the sensory prompt to create a hashed signal, andtransmitting the hashed signal to a central server for processing,wherein the EEG transmits the response to a mobile device, said mobiledevice which presented the sensory prompt to the user, and the mobiledevice performs the hashing and transmits the hashed signal to anautomated teller machine (ATM) and/or to the central server.